A tanker blasts in waters off Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan

TOKYO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A tanker exploded in waters off Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan on Thursday morning, Japanese coastguard said, adding that the safety of the eight crew members on board has not been confirmed yet.

According to an coastguard official, the vessel was about two kilometers south of the Himeji Port, which is about 450 kilometers west of Tokyo. Black smoke was seen billowing from the ship, up to 100-meter high.